The Dark Prince

Gilden, the so-called “Dark Prince,” committed the ultimate sin in the First Shadow War — siding with the Dark One. His descendants were forevermore cursed with a thirst for blood.

Gilden (6685 A.E. to 15 A.H. or 508-301 Y.B.E.) was the adopted son of King Danthemari IX. He was of uncertain parentage, but entered the royal household along with his sister at a very young age. As a young man he was blessed — along with his sister — with stunning good looks. However, rumors began to surface early on of an incestuous relationship between Gilden and his sister Elloré. King Danthemari believed it purely gossip and ignored it.

King Danthemari appointed Gilden, at age 60, as prince over the province of Londor. His sister, despite Danthemari’s wishes otherwise, moved with him to the Londoren capital of Marlon. From the beginning, Prince Gilden became feared for his capricious cruelty. He doubled the tax rate to build himself more and more lavish residences. He took a special interest in the religion of the most ancient elves, before the belief of the gods became widespread. The common people of Marlon called him Gilden the Evildoer (Gilden Maliri).

At the outbreak of the Shadow War, Prince Gilden officially married his sister Elloré, defected from the Elven Kingdom, and announced his allegiance with the Dark One. He fought tirelessly to keep the Riverlands and other regions under his sway. He besieged the capital of Danarion and surrounded it for 13 days, only to be outmaneuvered and driven away. There, a prophecy was born — words uttered from Prince Gilden’s lips, that one of his descendants would massacre the inhabitants of Danarion and leave no brick standing.

At the end of the Shadow War, Prince Gilden found himself in control only of the lands immediately surrounding Marlon, isolated and friendless. Now old and decrepit, he became increasingly paranoid. Suspecting his sister-wife Elloré of conspiring with the new Lamen king Danirias, he killed her with his own hands.

The gods bestowed on both Gilden and his descendants the Vampire’s Curse. His descendants, the druen, live on in Nardur and elsewhere to this day.